An Ocala man was arrested after a sheriff’s office K9 smelled drugs in his vehicle when he was pulled over for driving without a valid license and registration.
Brandon Joseph Skinner, 27, of 208 SE 32nd Ave., was charged Thursday afternoon with felony possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, driving with a suspended license (second offense), and failure to register a motor vehicle.
A Marion County Sheriff’s Office stopped Skinner’s tan 1999 Toyota Corolla on SE Maricamp Road after a random motor vehicle check revealed the tag attached to the vehicle was not registered to it. Another deputy arrived with K9 “Robo” and conducted an open-air sniff, which resulted in a positive alert for narcotics in the vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office report.
During a probable cause search of the vehicle, the deputy found a “vape” pen cartridge in the center console. Skinner said he knew the cartridge was in his vehicle and that it was marijuana. He said he purchased the cartridge for a friend, but he had also used it to inhale the oil. He also said he was aware his license was suspended and the vehicle was not legally registered, the report said.
The liquid in the vape pen tested positive for THC. Skinner was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was released Friday on $3,500 bond.